Interlocking bar puzzle comprising helically notched bars



March 12, 1968 E. SANSON INTERLOCKING BAR PUZZLE COMPRISING HELICALLY NOTCHED BARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1965 IN VENTOR. ROBE/PT E. SA NSON BYMML ATTORNEY March 12, 1968 R. E. SANSON 3,372,936

INTERLOCKING BAR PUZZLE COMPRISING HELICALLY NOTCHED BARS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 2 SheetsSheet z INVENTOR. ROBE/P7 E. 5/1 NSO/V ATTORNEY United States Patent Cfifice 3,372,936 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,936 INTERLOCKING BAR PUZZLE COMPRISING HELICALLY NOTCHED BARS Robert E. Sanson, 1402 Reservoir Ave., Roslyn, Pa. 19001 Filed Aug. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 483,165 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-160) This invention relates to puzzles, and more particularly, to a puzzle in which a plurality of interlocking bars may be assembled into a symmetrical block structure.

A primary object of the invention is to provide for amusement and pastime a novel and interesting block puzzle of seemingly extraordinary complexity in which with the exercise of patience and skill, a plurality of bars may be assembled into a single composite locked structure.

Another object is to provide a plurality of interengageable helically notched bars capable of being assembled into a symmetrical interlocked ornamental structure.

A further object is to provide a block puzzle comprising twenty-four interengageable bars of the same length composed of two respective sets of twelve identical notched bars.

A further object of the invention is to provide a block puzzle composed of interengageable reversible notched bars of regular hexagonal cross section.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims, the following sets forth the details of construction and combination of parts of a specific embodiment of my invention which will be best understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one of a first set of identical hexagonal notched bars of which the puzzle is composed; FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the bar of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an elevation on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an elevation on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a front elevation of one of a second set of identical hexagonal bars notched differently than the bar of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the bar of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is an elevation on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is an elevation on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first step in assembling the puzzle illustrating a bar of FIG. 1 interengaged with a bar of FIG. 5 forming a basic construction unit; FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the second step in the solution of the puzzle in which two of the basic units of FIG. 9 are interengaged; FIGS. 10 to are perspective views showing successive steps in assembling the puzzle, in which basic units of FIG. 9 are successively interengaged; and FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing all of the parts properly assembled.

The puzzle comprises two sets of 12 identical elongatednotched bars of regular hexagonal cross-section, the bars of the two sets differing only in the notchin g. The bars of each set have five longitudinally-spaced diagonal notches disposed helically around the bar in successively adjacent flat longitudinal faces. The sequential notches are flat bottomed, extend to a depth half way through the bar, have a width slightly greater than the distance between opposite vertices of the hexagon of the bar in transverse section and have their sides all inclined at an angle of about 70 and 32' to the longitudinal axis of the bar, alternate notches in the helix having their sides inclined at this angle in opposite sense.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, the bar 25, -characteristic of the first set, has in its front face 31 as represented in FIG. 1, an end notch 30 inclined upwardly to the right. The adjacent notch 32 is in the face 33 next right of the face 31, is disposed higher on the bar and is inclined upwardly to the left as shown in full face in FIG. 3. The

next sequential notch 34 is medial of the bar length, is in the face 35 next right of the face 33 and is inclined to the longitudinal axis in the same sense as the notch 30. The next sequential notch 32 is in the adjacent face 37 to the right of the face 35 and is identical with and in clined with respect to the longitudinal axis in the same direction as the notch 32. The final sequential notch 30' is in the face 39 to the right of the face 37 and is identical with and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis in the same direction as the notch 30. The end notches 30 and 30' are disposed at the same distances from the respective opposite ends of the bar, the intermediate notch 32 is disposed longitudinally midway between the end notch 30 and the medial notch 34, and the intermediate notch 32 is disposed longitudinally midway between the end notch 30' and the medial notch 34. The bar 25 is reversible in the sense that when reversed end for end by rotation on a transverse horizontal axis and then rotated 60 clockwise about the longitudinal axis it will appear identical. For example, if the bar 25, as shown in FIG. 1, is rotated on a transverse horizontal axis in the plane of the drawing and is then rotated 60 clockwise as viewed from below, it Will appear exactly as in FIG. 1, with the notch 30' being adjacent to the bottom of the bar and the notch 30 adjacent to the top of the bar.

The bottoms of the notches are planes which include the longitudinal axis of the bar and are parallel to the face from which the respective notch extends. The sides of each notch are respectively perpendicular to its bottom, except in the case of the notches 30 and 30' which have their sides 40 and 40', remote from the respective adjacent ends of the bar, identically beveled at 41 and 41 to somewhat more than half the depth. of the respective notch.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show one of the bars 26 of the second set, which is similar to the bars of the first set but has the notches arranged in a left-hand-thread helix around the bar instead of the right-hand-thread helix of the bar 25. As shown in FIG. 8, the bar has in its front face 51, adjacent the lower end, a notch 50 inclined upwardly to the right. The adjacent notch of the helix is the intermediate notch 52 in the face 53 next left of the face 51, the sequential medial notch 54 is in the face 55 next left of the face 53, the sequential intermediate notch 52 is in the face 57 next left of the face 55 and the end notch 50 is in the face 59 next left of the face 57. The inclinations of the end and medial notches with respect to the longitudinal axis are the same as for the corresponding end and medial notches of the bar 25, and the intermediate notches are of opposite inclination, also similarly as in the bar 25. The notches in the bar 26 are longitudinally disposed identically with the corresponding notches of the v bar 25.

The notches in the bar 26 have fiat bottoms and mipendicular sides, similar to the notches in the bar 25, but differ with respect to beveling of some of the sides. In the notches 50 and 50', the sides 60 and 60', toward the respective adjacent end of the bar, are identically beveled at 61 and 61' to about half the depth of the notches. In the notches 52 and 52, the sides 62 and 62', toward the medial notch 54, are identically beveled at 63 and 63 to somewhat more than half the depth of the notches, similarly to the bevels 41 and 41.

One example of the assembling or interengaging of the bars to complete or solve the puzzle will now be described, successive bars in a set being identified by consecutive subscripts. Referring to FIG. 9, the bars 25 and 26 are interengaged at their respective medial notches 34 and 54, forming a basic construction unit. The puzzle is further assembled by successive one-at-a-time additions 3 of identical basic units formed by medial interengagement of a bar of the first set with a bar of the second set.

In FIG. a second unit, composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown engaged with the first unit, the notch 30 of the bar 25 being interengaged with the notch 51) of the bar 26 and the notch 50 of the bar 26 being interengaged with the notch 3d of the bar 25 In FIG. 11 a third unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the assembly of FIG. 10, the notch 30' of the bar 25 being intcrengaged with the notch 5d of the bar 26 and the notch 59' of the bar 26 being interengaged with the notch 31) of the bar 23 In FIG. 12 a fourth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the assembly of FIG. 11, the notch Stl of the bar 26 being interengaged with the notch 3d of the bar 25 and the notch 50 of the bar 26 being interengaged with the notch 30' of the bar 25, and the notches 3t) and 3th of the bar 25 being interengaged with the notches $4? of the respective bars 26 and 26.

The structure of FIG. 12 is a symmetrical self-supporting subassembly and is one of three identical subassemblics which when properly interfitted constitute the completed puzzle. It is evident that this subassembly could have been constructed by combining the basic units in any selected order rather than in the clockwise order indicated in the foregoing.

In FIG. 13 a fifth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25.; and 26 is shown added to the subassembly of FIG. 12. The bar 25 is disposed parallel to and behind and to the left of the bar 26 in such position that its notch 32 interengages the notch 52' of the bar 26 and the notch 52 of the bar 26 interengages the notch 32 of the bar 25. In FIG. 14 a sixth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the structure of FIG. 13, wherein the notches 50 and 52' of the bar 26 are interengaged respectively with the notch 30 of the bar 25 and the notch 32 of the bar 25 and the notches 30 and 32 of the bar 25 are interengaged respectively with the notch 50 of the bar 26 and the notch 52' of the bar 26 In FIG. 15 a seventh unit composed of medially interengaged bars and 26 is shown added to the structure of FIG. 14, in which the notches 3t) and 32 of the bar 25 are interengaged respectively with notch 5d of the bar 26 and the notch 52 of the bar 26 and the notches 5t} and 52 of the bar 26 are interengaged respectively with the notch of the bar 25 and the notch 32' of the bar 25 In FIG. 16 an eighth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the structure of FIG. 15, in which the notches 3t), 30 and 32' of the bar 25 are interengaged respectively with the notch of the bar 26 the notch 5d of the bar 26 and the notch 52 of the bar 26, and the notches 50, 50 and 52 of the bar 26 are interengaged respectively with the notch 30' of the bar 25 the notch 30 of the bar 25 and the notch 32 of the bar 25 At this stage the structure has a second complete four-unit subassembly interlocked with the first subassembly illustrated in FIG. 12.

In FIG. 17 a ninth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the assembly of FIG. 16. The bar 25 is disposed parallel to and behind the bar 26 in such position that its notches 32 and 32 respectively intercngage the notch 52 of the bar 26 and the notch 52 of the bar 26, while the notches 52 and 52' of the bar 26 respectively interengage the notches 32 of the bars 25 and 25 In FIG. 18 a tenth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the structure of FIG. 17, wherein the notches 5t), 52 and 52' of the bar 26 respectively interengage the notch 30 of the bar 25 the notch 32 of the bar 25 and the notch 32 of the bar 25 and the notches 39, 32 and 32 of the bar 25 respectively interengage the notch 50' of the bar 26;}. the notch 52 of the bar 26 and the notch of the bar 26 gal an In FIG. 19 an eleventh unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown added to the as sembly of FIG. 18, in which the notches 50, 52 and 52' of the bar 26 respectively interengage the notch 34? of the bar 25 the notch 32 of the bar 25 and the notch 32 of the bar 25 and the notches 30, 32 and 32 of the bar 25 respectively interengage the notch 50 of the bar 26 the notch 52 of the bar 26 and the notch 52 of the bar 26 In FIG. 20 a twelfth unit composed of medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 is shown inserted into the structure of FIG. 19, the bar 26 being in juxtaposition but not interengaged with the bars 25 25 25 and 25 and the bar 25 being in juxtaposition but not interengaged with the bars 26 25 26 and 26 preparatory to interlocking the complete puzzle.

FIG. 21 shows the complete puzzle, in which the medially interengaged bars 25 and 26 have been lockingly in tegrated into the assembly of FIG. 19, by a twisting manipulation which snaps the twelfth unit into final position wherein the notches 30, 3 2, 32' and 30" of the bar 25 respectively interengage the notch 50 of the bar 26 the notch 52 of the bar 26 the notch 52 of the bar 26 and the notch 50' of the bar 26 and the notches 50, 52, 52 and 50' of the bar 26 respectively interengage the notch 30 of the bar 25 the notch 32 of the bar 25 the notch 32 of the bar 25 and the notch 30' of the bar 25 The intcrengagement of the respective bars is facilitated by the bevels 4 41, 61, 61', 63 and 63', particularly in the case of the insertion and manipulation of the twelfth basic unit into final locking position. Although there is very little clearance for accomplishing the insertion and manipulation into place of the final unit, this procedure is made readily feasible by the flexibility of the previously assembled structure due to the deliberate inclusion of suitable lost motion in the interengagements of the preceding units.

In the foregoing, for purposes of illustration, I have demonstrated the solving of the puzzle in a specific sequence of assembly of the several basic units, but it is evident that the units may be properly assembled in many other sequences. Since the puzzle can thus be assembled in many different ways, its fascination is greatly enhanced over block puzzles which can only be assembled in one way and thus tend to become monotonous.

In the above preferred modification I have shown the puzzle as being composed of bars whose cross-sections are regular hexagons, but it is obvious that the crosssections may equally be circles or regular polygons in which the number of sides is evenly divisible by six, for example, such as a dodecagon. In any case, it is essential only that in advancing along the helix of notches from one end of a bar, the flat bottoms of successive notches be sequentially radially angularly displaced sixty degrees from the respective preceding notch.

The bars of the puzzle may be molded, cut from rod stock, or otherwise fabricated from any suitable material and may be of any desired color or decoratively variegated. For example, the bars may be composed of rigid plastic material with one set of the bars of one color and the other set of another color.

Although my invention has been described in c0nsiderable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as other embodiments will be evident to those skilled in the art, as well as obvious modifications in construction and arrangements of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A puzzle comprising twenty-four bars of equal length and cross-section arranged in two respective sets of twelve identically-notched reversible bars, said notches being disposed helically around the bars, the notches of the bars in one set being respectively interengageable with the notches of the bars of the other set to form a symmetrical self-sustaining structure,

2. A puzzle of claim 1 in which each bar has five longitudinally-spaced helically-disposed notches, the notches of each bar of one set being arranged in a right-handthread helix around the bar and the notches of each bar of the other set being arranged in a left-hand-thread helix around the bar.

3. A puzzle of claim 2 in which said notches extend to a depth half way through the bar and have flat bottoms and parallel sides perpendicular thereto, the bottom of each helically sequential notch being radially angularly displaced 60 from the preceding notch of the helix, and all said sides being inclined at an angle of approximately 70 to the axis of the bar, with the sides of successive helically-adjacent notches being inclined to said axis alternately in opposite sense.

4. A puzzle of claim 1 in which the transverse sectional shape of said bars is a regular hexagon and said notches extend inwardly from respective flat surfaces of the bars.

5. A puzzle of claim 1 in which said bars are cylindrical.

6. A puzzle of claim 1 in which the bars are fabricated of rigid plastic material.

7. A block puzzle comprising twenty-four bars of equal length and cross-section, each of said bars having a medial notch, a notch adjacent each end and a respective notch intermediate the medial notch and each end notch, said notches being disposed helically around the bar each successively at a 60 radial angle from the next preced' ing notch, said notches extending to a depth of half the bar thickness and having flat bottoms and parallel sides inclined at an angle of approximately 70 to the axis of the bar with the sides of successive adjacent notches along the helix being alternately inclined at said angle to the axis in opposite sense, said bars being arranged in two sets of twelve bars in which the helices, of the notches of the two sets are respectively of opposite hand, one of said sets having bevels on the respective sides of the end notches of its bars which are adjacent to the intermediate notches thereof, and the other set having bevels on the respective sides of the end notches of its bars which are adjacent to the ends thereof and bevels on the respective sides of the intermediate notches of its bars which are adjacent to the medial notches thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,221,149 4/1917 DAutremont 273-160 1,455,009 5/1923 Schenk 273-160 2,635,303 6/1948 Poynter 46-20 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PUZZLE COMPRISING TWENTY-FOUR BARS OF EQUAL LENGTH AND CROSS-SECTION ARRANGED IN TWO RESPECTIVE SETS OF TWELVE IDENTICALLY-NOTCHED REVERSIBLE BARS, SAID NOTCHES BEING DISPOSED HELICALLY AROUND THE BARS, THE NOTCHES OF THE BARS IN ONE SET BEING RESPECTIVELY INTERENGAGEABLE WITH THE NOTCHES OF THE BARS OF THE OTHER SET TO FORM A SYMMETRICAL SELF-SUSTAINING STURCTURE. 